The Disappearing Wonders of the World0:41

The Mona Lisa, The Great Wall of China, The Trevi Fountain; it seems some of the wonders of the world are being destroyed by hoards of tourists. What can we do to protect them?

June 16th 2017

8 months ago

Iran: an amazing country visit, but difficult to enter. Picture: istockSource:Supplied

WE LIKE to think the world is our oyster and in many ways it is — except for these destinations.

Whether it’s because of their remoteness, stringent entry and hard travel conditions, these countries are notoriously difficult to visit.

9. ANGOLA

After decades of bloody civil war and political unrest, Angola is finally beginning to recover and mend its many wounds.

A country rich in natural resources, it remains a difficult place to access, with little travel infrastructure to speak of, but it hides great natural beauty and a proud, welcoming and stoic population.

Why go: The surprising and prosperous capital of Luanda (the most expensive city in the world), Portuguese influences with an African twist, fantastic national parks and wildlife.

How to get in: Angola has strict visa regulations. All foreign nationals, except citizens of Namibia, are required to get a visa before travelling, the requirements for which include, among other things, an international vaccination certificate.

What the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says: Exercise a high degree of caution. Reconsider travel to the areas of Cabinda, Lunda Norte and Sul.

8. BHUTAN

Bhutan is an expensive country to visit but it’s worth it.Source:istock

Bhutan is a mysterious Himalayan kingdom, steeped in Buddhist tradition, yet with its sights set firmly on the future.

Famous for measuring its wealth in Gross National Happiness rather than gross domestic product, at least 60 per cent of Bhutan’s territory must, by law, remain forested, making it the world’s only carbon sink, absorbing more greenhouses gases than it emits.

How to get in: All travellers, excluding Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian citizens, require a visa and must book their trip through a Bhutanese travel operator. Visitors must also pay a fee of $326 per day, which seems a bit excessive, but includes all travel expenses (accommodation, transportation, food and even a guide). Beyond that, travellers have quite a bit of freedom: they are able to design their own itineraries and are not restricted to large tour groups.

What DFAT says: Exercise normal travel precautions.

7. KIRIBATI

Kiribati, a scenic but little-known island republic in the Central Pacific region.Source:istock

The remote island nation lost somewhere in the Central Pacific is one of the world’s least visited countries — no wonder, since getting here is tough both logistically and (for many) bureaucratically.

How to get in: Citizens of 68 countries (including all of the European Union) are allowed to enter Kiribati visa-free. Others must seek out one of Kiribati’s very few foreign embassies (the country’s only diplomatic presence in Europe is limited to one person in the tiny Welsh village of Llanddewi Rhydderch, nearly as secluded as Kiribati itself).

DFAT does not offer travel advice for Kiribati.

6. BELARUS

Belarus has only just introduced new laws making it easier for foreigners to visit. Picture: iStockSource:Supplied

Long shut off to foreign visitors due to its knotty visa requirements, Belarus, the country notoriously dubbed “Europe’s last dictatorship,” has recently introduced simplified entry to those who wish to stay no longer than five days. Those who enter and depart through the Minsk National Airport do not require a visa to stay in the country for up to five full days.

How to get in: If you wish to stay longer than the visa-free period of five days (and you’re not a national of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine), you will need to apply for a long-term visa in advance — requirements for these remain stringent.

What DFAT says: Exercise normal travel precautions.

5. SAUDI ARABIA

Tourist visas to Saudi Arabia were suspended in 2010.Source:Getty Images

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is many things: the birthplace of Islam, a shopper’s paradise and one of the most difficult countries in the world to visit, home to sparkling cities, endless resort beaches and vast desert expanses, ruled by strict Islamic law.

It simply cannot be compared to anywhere else on earth.

Why go: The modern metropolis of Riyadh, the mixture of old and new in cities like Jeddah, golden beaches and world-class diving, historic, cultural and natural attractions galore, not to mention the most sacred places in the Islamic world (accessible only to Muslims).

How to get in: All foreign visitors, with the exception of citizens of some neighbouring countries, must have an advance visa (except those visiting through airport for fewer than 18 hours, though in those cases some restrictions still apply). Tourist visas were suspended in 2010, so you’ll probably need a business or student visa, or a Hajj (pilgrimage) visa for Muslims, to get in. Additionally, if you do manage to secure a visa, its period of validity will be displayed in lunar months, so have fun figuring that out. Be aware that sharia is strictly enforced in Saudi Arabia.

What DFAT says: Reconsider your need to travel to Saudi Arabia. Do not travel to areas within 30 kilometres of the border with Yemen.

4. IRAN

The Shrine of Fatima Almasomh in Qom, Iran.Source:istock

Perhaps less difficult to visit than places like Saudi Arabia, Iran is a country of rare natural beauty that remains to-date relatively unexplored. Reasons range from the negative publicity Iran receives in the Western media to the often tricky process of obtaining a visa.

How to get in: Visa applications take notoriously long to be processed, so make sure to start preparations long before travelling (tourist visas on arrival are known to have been denied to foreign nationals). Australian travellers need a visa to enter Iran. Entry is denied to Israeli citizens and Australian travellers whose passports contain any indication of connection/travel to the state of Israel.

What DFAT says: Exercise a high degree of caution. Do not travel to border areas with Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iraq.

3. TURKMENISTAN

Performances in central Ashgabat on October 27 to mark the 26th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence. Picture: AFP/Igor SasinSource:AFP

Decades of Saparmurat Niyazov’s rule left Turkmenistan with streets, cities, months of the year and even meteorites named after himself (Turkmenbashi — “leader of all Turkmen” — who was the country’s changeless leader up until 2006).

How to get in: A foreign visitor’s best bet is either hiring a guide from a local tour company (this will also make it much easier to get the required letter of invitation) or applying for a five-day transit visa (only works for travel on land).

What DFAT says: Exercise normal safety precautions. But avoid the area near the Turkmenistan/Afghanistan border.

2. NORTH KOREA

The hermit kingdom can only be accessed by tourists on a guide tour.Source:istock

A notoriously secretive and shut-off society, tourism to North Korea is ever so slightly on the rise.

You can’t expect to travel independently while you’re there, and your guides will be sure only to show you what you’re meant to see, with most interactions carefully orchestrated, but you may still get insight into one of the world’s most isolated and unsettling places.

Why go: There simply is no other place in the world like North Korea. Experience first-hand the deranged personality cult around the Kim family, and with your presence help expose the population to just a taste of the outside world.

How to get in: North Korea can only be accessed with an organised “tour” from China. That being said, it is not that difficult to secure a visa once your tour and guides have been booked (there are several companies that take care of the whole process), as long as you’re not a journalist.

What DFAT says: Reconsider your need to travel.

1. ERITREA

Eritrea is said to be even less democratic than North Korea.Source:istock

The single-party state of Eritrea comes in dead last on our list and the World Press Freedom Index, beating even North Korea to the title of world’s least democratic in terms of freedom of information. Border controls are typically very stringent, which does not apply solely to journalists.

How to get in: Nationals of all countries, except Kenya and Uganda, require an entry visa. There is no guarantee of being issued a visa, and some applicants may only succeed after multiple attempts at obtaining one. A local tour operator’s involvement may somewhat simplify the process.

What DFAT says: Reconsider your need to travel to Eritrea. Do not travel to areas bordering Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti, or the towns of Teseney, Barentu and Assab.

Be aware that most of these countries are difficult to visit for a reason. Many of them have serious human rights issues, political unrest and notoriously strict crime enforcement.

If you choose to travel to any of these places, be sure to take every precaution and avoid behaviour or actions that might get you into trouble.